Tuesday, January 05, 2010

It was only a matter of time before a 3-D network hit the airwaves, and to no one's surprise, it's coming from ESPN. Starting with the first game of this year's World Cup, ESPN 3D will air a total of 85 live games in 2010....

ESPN will launch ESPN 3D - the industry’s first 3D television network - it was announced today by George Bodenheimer, Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, and President, ESPN and ABC Sports. ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11 featuring South Africa vs. Mexico. Other events to be produced in 3D include up to 25 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, Summer X Games, college basketball, and college football, which will include the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., January 10, 2011. Additional events will be announced at a later date.

”ESPN’s commitment to 3D is a win for fans and our business partners,” said Bodenheimer. “ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan’s viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing.”

“This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities,” said Sean Bratches, executive vice president, sales and marketing.

I have to admit that, while I thought this technology was years away, I'm kind of excited to see how ESPN does in 3-D. I guess the next move is for ESPN to come up with a way to look while wearing 3-D glasses. In fact, that might just be impossible.

It had better be better than the disaster last month at Texas Stadium, when Cowboys and Charger fans joined in booing the 3-D telecast of the third quarter of the Dallas-San Diego game off the screen at the Jerrydome.

Alcohol, crappy glasses and a blue-and-red separation on a 60-yard-long TV screen got 90,000 people to all agree on something. It might go over better at home, but I doubt channel surfers are going to enjoy repeatedly taking those glasses on and off when they're not tuned to ESPN.